(CNN) – More than 1.4 million Ohio voters have either cast or requested an absentee ballot for the November election, Ohio's secretary of state Jon Husted announced Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state had to keep open its voting booths in the final three days–Saturday, Sunday, Monday–before Election Day, rejecting Republican-led attempts to try and force all counties to close their polling locations that same weekend.– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

Democrats praised the decision, arguing the original law would have disproportionately affected Democratic voters. Republicans had maintained the state needed those final three days to organize and prepare for Election Day.

Voters in Ohio began casting ballots on October 2–or on September 22 for those in the military–as part of its early voting calendar.

Of those who have requested absentee ballots to vote by mail, roughly 22% have cast their ballot, including about 16% of military service members who have asked for ballots.

Meanwhile, about 124,000 Ohioans have cast an absentee ballot in person at the board of elections or a designated early vote center, Husted's office said.

His office also points out that the 7.9 million registered voters in Ohio have 264 total hours available for in-person voting before Election Day, including the final weekend.

soundoff(53 Responses)

Thank the Lord for the US Constitution, that gives the judicial branch the opportunity to review and rule on skewed rules that the GOP wanted.

October 18, 2012 03:41 am at 3:41 am |

Clouds Across The Moon

... which won't be counted until November 7.

October 18, 2012 05:41 am at 5:41 am |

George

It's potential voter fraud when voting is made more convenient. It's free speech when CEOs threaten to fire employees if they don't vote Republican. I'd like one tea party patriot to explain that logic to me.